steinmetz



.1. $TEINMETZ I Sept. 6,1932.

Filed Dec. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sapt. s, 1932.-

J. STEINMETZ SIGN Filed D60. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept.- 6, 1932v JULIUS srnnvmnrz, orgwrnrnnor, mAssAonUsnr'rs SIGN Application filed December 24, 1931. Serial No. 583,009.

This invention relates to signs, and more has an ornamental frame or borderit is not illuminated becau'sethe material is not capable of transmitting light. Also the adveri:..tising portion of the sign presents a flat or at least unornamental surface because'the glass or other materials now-used to make such signs cannot be moulded or made with depressions and projections whichv are neces- 2: saryin order to achieve real ornamentation in the advertising portion.

One object of my invention is to provide a new illuminated sign the whole front of which is lighted, making a variety of colors 2 jpossible. Another object has been to providesuch a sign with an illuminatedborder I Still another object-has beento V V longitudinal slot 23 to make said easel ador frame. so make such a sign that itcan be made of in.- expensive material at a low'labor costandof such simple construction that it may be sold at prices which "meet'the' competition of inferior'signs. i I

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better lunderstood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawings. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and, therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawings; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within thescope of my claims. In the drawings;

in, or the openings in the mesh are otherwise on? Figure 1 is a front elevation ofmy sign showing a projecting border around the advertising portion surrounded by an outside frame. v 7

Figure 2 is a cross-sectiononthe line'22 of Figure 1. V r V Figure 3 is arcduced plan view of my sign.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the stand or easel which supports my sign, looking in the direction of the arrow A. 1

As illustrated my'sign has a casing or supporting member 12, the sidesrof which converge towards the rear as shown, the inside of which may serve as a reflector by painting it white, nickeling it orotherwise providing a reflecting surface. Vent holes 13 are provided as a precautionto permitthe escape;- of heated air. At the rear of said casing 12 is an opening 14 having a removable cover 15 which may be sprung into place. Within said casingis astandard electric lamp 16 with cord 17 attached to connect with any suitable" source of electric current, not shown .5

My sign may be supported in an upright position by an easel 20 riveted as at 22 to said casing 12, which easel has two legs or pieces of sheet metal 21', the lowerone having a justable, and the upperleg having a hole 24.

' A bolt 25 passes through said slot 23 and hole I 24 and has a wing nut 26 to hold it fast in any desired position in said slot 23. My sign is adapted to be suspended or hung up as well, either indoors or outdoors, in which event no easel is necessary.

A front or face 28 may be made all in one piece of some kind of screening. I have found fourteen mesh galvanized wire screen- I ing suitable for this purpose; and this whole" front 28 may be stamped out of a single piece of material including the outside portion or 1 frame 29 which surrounds the inner or advertising portion 30. 'Said screening is dipped covered, with a transparent or light transmitt-ing material, such as nitro-cellulose, lac-said front being formed of open mesh matequer for instance, after being stamped or otherwise formed to the desired shape. In order to make said front 28 as ornamental and attractive as possible it has depressions and projections formed in it, some of which are designed to serve a useful purpose. For instance, depressions 31 receive holders 33 which extend across the advertising portion 30 at the front of the screening, which holders have slots 34 adapted to receive flexible symbolic members 35, such as letters, figures or symbols, which may be sprung into said slots 34. It should be noted that the portions of said front 28 on which said symbolic mem bers 35 rest are arched, causing the letters to stand out prominently and making the reading or advertising portion 30 of said sign much more attractive than ifit were. flat as would be necessary were it made of glass.

The shape of an insignia may be stamped into said front 28 by making the proper depressions orprojections, or both, in said front, and suitably coloring it. In this event the letters or symbols 35 as well as the holders 33 may be omitted.

Said holders 33vhave countersunk holes through which bolts 36 extend from the front to the rear of the screening where there is a washer 37 at the end of the bolt, and anut 38, which elements fasten said holders 33 in place on said front 28.

Said front 28 is-lapped over along its outside edge, and is bolted as at 40 to said cas-' ing 12. Said outside frame 29 may be of any configuration or its outside edges may be straight and the casing 12 shouldcorrespond in shape to it at the point where it is riveted, so that the whole front 28 will be illuminated.

Surrounding the advertising portion 30 of my sign all the way around is what appears from a front view to be a tubular rim l2,

iwhich is formed by merely projecting a portion of said front 28, illustrated in the crosssection (Figure 2) of the drawings. Said projecting portion when painted or otherwise colored redor some other color than the rest of the front, has the apearance of a neon tube and enhances the beauty of my sign.

\Vhat I claim is: I V

1. A sign comprising a supporting member, a lighting means mounted in said member, a front attached to said supporting member, saidfront being formed of screening the openings in which being covered with a light transmitting material, said front embodying an advertising portion and an outside frame portion, said advertising portion having depressions therein, holding'members in said depressions fastened to said front and having provision to receive symbolic members between them. I I

'2. A sign comprlsmg a casmg, lighting means in said casing, a front attached at approximately its outside edge to said casing,

rial and having said openings covered with a light transmitting material, said front having depressions formed therein, holding members in said depressions fastened to said front having provision to receive symbolic members, said front embodying an advertising portion, a projecting portion bordering said advertising portion, and a frame portion surrounding said border.

3. A sign comprising a casing, lighting means in said casing, a front attached at approximately its outside edge to said casing, said front being formed of one piece of screening the openings being covered with a light transmitting material, said front embodying an advertising portion, a projecting border portion surrounding said advertising portion, and a frame portion surrounding said border, said advertising portion h ving de pressions therein, holding members in said depressions fastened to said front and having provision to receive symbolic members between them, the portions of said advertising portion between said holding members being arch-shaped.

4. A sign comprising a casing, lighting means in said casing, a front attached to said casing, said front being formed of open mesh material the openings being covered with a light transmitting material, said front embodying an advertising portion having projections therein extending horizontally and spaced apart, holding members in said depressions having slots therein adapted to receive symbolic members, the portions of said advertising portion between said projections being arch-shaped, said front having a projecting border port-ion surrounding said advertising portion and a frame portion surrounding said border.

5/A sign comprising a supporting member, lighting means, a front formed of open mesh material attached to said member and forward of said means, said front having portions projected and depressed from the plane surface and having the openings covered by a light transmitting material, said projected portions forming surfaces for symbolic members, and means in said depressed portions to'hold saidmembers on said surfaces. 

